Three free agents that can help White Sox defensively

3. Kole Calhoun

Of the three positions mentioned, right field is the only spot that the team could guarantee a starting role in for the entirety of the 2020 season as of now.

If the season were to start today and both Nick Madrigal and Luis Robert were on the Opening Day roster, Leury Garcia would start in right field.

While Garcia wasn’t bad in 2019, it appears that the team has already assessed that they need an upgrade at that position in 2020.

With that being the case, Kole Calhoun probably represents the best option on the free agent market.

I don’t think I need to explain how Nicholas Castellanos is not their best option defensively, although his bat would provide immense value to the lineup.

Calhoun, on the flip side, ranked seventh in MLB in DRS (-1) and fourth in UZR (5.1) in 2019.

While -1 DRS isn’t overly impressive, he has 12 DRS over parts of eight seasons in the league and he’s only finished negative in the category twice in his career (other was in 2013) and once in UZR (also 2013).

Despite not being a flashy option offensively, Calhoun is a solid left-handed bat to add to the lineup as he hit .232/.325/.467 with 33 homers and 74 RBI in 2019 to give himself a 108 wRC+ and 2.5 fWAR.

The fact that he’s a left-handed bat would help balance the team’s lineup as they currently are set to only have two left-handed options in their lineup and both are switch hitters in Yasmani Grandal and Yoan Moncada.

Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors only projects him to net a one-year deal worth $6 million and if that’s the price, the White Sox should jump at the opportunity of signing him.